Knock-down desk



March 28, 1939. M, s. sTEvENsoN E11-AL 2,152,609

KNocK-DowN DESK Filed sept. 26, 1955 .3 sheets-sheet 1 March 28, 1939-` M. s. sTl-:vENsoN ET Al. 2,152,609

KNOCK-DOWN DESK 3 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1935 evezwon Rqymonc Wel/S March 28, 1939., M. sA sTl-:vENsoN ET AL KNOCK-DOWN DES K 3 Sheets-Smet 5 Filed Sept. 26, 1935 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEA KNOCK-DOWN DESK Milton S. Stevenson, Larchmont, N. Y., and Raymond Wells, Bridgeboro, N. J.; said Stevenson assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation ol.' Delaware, and said Wells signor to Kieckhefer Container Com- Delair, N. J., a corporation oi Maine Application September 26,1935, Serial 'Nm 42,308

lsclaims.'

'I'his invention relates toY desks and more particularly to a portable and knock-down or foldable desk for use either as a writing or typewriter The invention comprehends the construction of i a typewriting and writing desk of material, such as corrugated paper board, wherein the sheet mal Aterial is constructed, arranged and designed to provide a rigid supportfor. a typewriter'or similar machine that will not only carry many times its weight ,but will provide a substantiallyI rigid support forthe machine during operation, free from such vibration in the operation of the machine which would affect its eicient operation.

The invention' further comprehends the construction of a knock-down typewriting and writing desk having a plurality of sheet material members formed to provide a supporting structure for a typewriter or the like or for use as a writing desk in whichY a rigid structure is obtained through the arrangement of the sheet material sections with each other in angularrelation in such a manner that they will support a substantial vertical load Yagainst vibration, the parts being intertted without direct means of attachment and adapted for folding in disassembled relation so that they may be packed in a flat container in superimposed relation for ready portability to transport'the desk from one point to another.

The invention coinprehendsV novel features of construction of the various members incorporated in the desk construction toIobtain their intertting and interlocking engagement in a novel manner without special means oi attachment of one member to the otherV so that in their interengaged relation they will cooperate to provide a rigid desk .construction that will support many' times the weight of an ordinary typewriter or they like and still be readily disassembled for folding in order to provide a knock-down construction that can be readily transported from place to .50 place.

description of a preferred form oi' construction and in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows the desk forming the present invention in perspective, the cover member being 5 shown in its assembled vertical position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the cover member removed and portions of the top member broken away to show the structure beneath.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken 10 on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 showing the cover member in the vertical position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken on line 4-:4 0f Fig; 2; l

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken 15 on line 5'-5 of Fig. 2 showing the cover member in its vertical position.

Fig. Gis a fragmentary vertical longitudinal *section similar to Fig. 5 with portions broken away and illustrating the cover member in hori- 20l zontal position superposed on the top member.`

Fig. '1 illustrates the various parts of the desk construction in perspective in disassembled relation.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective 25 showing one kind of Vcorrugated paper board adapted for use in the construction of the desk forming the present invention.

An outer casing l is formed of corrugated paper board and has a front panel 2, a rear panel 3, 30 outer side panels 4 and inner side panels 5. This casing is formed of two pieces of corrugated paper board, one piece being formed to provide iront panel 2 and thetwo side panels 4 by creasing the board at the corners between the front 35 and the sides.

The rear panel 3 is formed of a second piece of corrugated board and is joined at its ends to the ends of the board forming the side panels and the front panel by tape as indcated at 6. The corrugations of the board 40 forming the casing extend in a vertical direction. The corrugated board forming front and rear panels 2 and 3 is slitted at 'l horizontally across Y the central portion and then scored vertically in spaced parallel relation at 8 while the section 45 between the score or crease lines 8 is slitted vertically in the center portion so as to form inner side wall sections 9. These sections 9 are folded inwardly along the crease lines 8 and ioined'at their meeting edges 50 by tape I0 to form the inner side walls ii` in spaced parallel relation to outer side walls 4. These inner side walls are of less height than the outer side Walls as clearly illustrated in the drawings. Figs. 4,' 5 and 7, and cooperate with the 55 outer side walls to form tubular pedestalsat opposite ends of the desk and an open space under the center of the desk. Flaps II are formed on each of the front, rear and side panels at the upper edges which" are turned inwardly so as to provide a smooth upper edge on the casing and also to aid in retaining the other parts in assembled relation as will appear in the following de- 2liV scrlption.

This easing is readily foldable into a fiat position by moving the front and rear panels toward. each other through the pivotal action of the side panels relative to the f ont and rear panels at the-corners, so that-Wh nthe casing is folded, the front panel will be oiset to/ne side of the rear panel while one of the side panels d will overlie the rear panel and the other side wall- 4 will overlie the front panel -in this offset relation. Y

When the casing is extended into rectangular extended position as shown `in the drawings, the tubular pedestals formed at the ends are adapted to receive a suitable supporting unit comprised of two pairs of crossed plate members I2, one pair being inserted in each pedestal and a plurality of .girders I3 that are supported by the.

plate members I2.

Each plate member I2 is formed of a sheet of corrugated board of the character shown in Fig. 8 with the corrugations running vertically, one of the plate members I2 of each pair having a vertical central slot cut in the lower half as indicated at I4, while the other plate member of each pair has a vertical central slot cut in the upper half as indicated at I5, so that the plate members of each pair may be assembled in intertting relation with each other as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7. They intersect at their center portions and extend in angular relation similar to an X in shape. The upper edge of each of the plate members I2 is formed with a plurality of vertical slots I6 and the upper corners of each plate member are cut away to provide shoulders I1.

These plate members when assembled as shown in Fig. 7 are slidably engaged in the pedestals at each end of the casing I with each plate member extending diagonally/in the pedestal, having the side edges slidably itting in the opposite corners of the pedestal in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. When these pairs of interengaged plate members are slidably interengaged in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 in the pedestals at each enel of the casing, the casing is then prevented from folding and is held rigidly in extended position due to the stress distributing action of the plate members in cooperation with the casing, in their diagonal `relation in the pedestals. When the plate members are assembled in this manner inthe casing, the girders I3, (four being illustrated), are-then slid downwardly into slots I6 in plate member I2, the slots being so.

2 and 5 in assembled relation, the manner of assembly being suggested bythe illustration in Fig. 7. I

in spaced parallel-relation and extend from end to end of the casing in-assembled relation. The inner side panels 5. are ofless height than the'` other panels forming the casing as apparent from the desk to receive a typewriter;

It will-be seenvthat the' girders arefarranged of the casing for the girders where they exten over the space between the pedestals.

'I'he flaps lII are arranged to extend into the cut-out upper corners of plate member I2 in the assembled relation ofthe plate members and girders forming the supporting unit, and the casing. The lower edges of the aps will engage the shoulders I1 and retain the plate members in a fixed position with reference to the casing so that they will not slide upwardly after the several parts are assembled. In this way, this supporting u nit which is slidably interitted in the casing will provide a support on the'upper edges thereof at a xed position with reference to the upper edge of the casing. Slots I6 in plate member I2 are of a depth equal to the height or width of girders I3. These girders are formed of strips of corrugated paper board in which the corrugations run in the vertical direction.

'Ihe central portion of each of the girders is recessedvas indicated at I8. When the girders are assembled in the plate members the upper edges of the girders lie in the same plane as the upper edges of the plate members, that is, in horizontal relation. This provides a rm and rigid support at the top of the deck for the top structure.

A top member I 9 is formed of a single sheet of corrugated board to provide end sections 20 and an intermediate or central section 2l oiset downwardly from the sections 20, the portions 22 of the sheet of corrugated board connecting section 2| with sections 20 and extending in vertical relation so as to strengthen the top structure. The margins of each section 20 are formed with aps 23 while the front margin of section 2| isformed with flop 24 and the rear margin with flap 25. These flaps are dependent from the top member.

The top member is placed upon the top of the supporting unit and Within the casing with the flaps 23, 24and 25 inserted inside the casing so as to engage between iiaps II and the supporting unit, that is, the aps 23, 24 and 25 engage outside of the supporting unit. The sections 20 are seated on the upper edges of girders I3 and plate members I2 while section 2I is seated in the recess-I8 formed in the-girders on the upper edges of the girders so as to form a recess in the top of When a typewriter is supported in the recess on section 2I of the Vtop member, it is at a convenient height for normal operation by an operator seated on a chair in front of the desk in the usual manner.

The vertical portions 22 of the top member along with the depending iaps 23 cooperate with the casing and supporting unit to add rigidity to the desk structure in its assembled relation. It

will be noted that all of these parts'are merely fitted one into the other and have no other means of attachment. When the top member is in position in the casing on the supporting unit, the upper surface of sections 20 are spaced slightly below the upper rounded edges of the casing a distance equal to about a double thickness of the paper board used in making the desk.

-I'Iheflap 25 on the rear end of. section 2I is flonger than the iiap 24 or flap 23 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 in order to provide a fold portion `26 and an upwardly extending end portion- 21..

-This provides for an interlocking between the end portion 21 and the ap II on the rear panel 3' throughout the width ofthe center section 2I and `.provides a tie between the rear panel and the top l lmember as well as' cooperates in supportingI the 75 scrib ed'.

A cover member 28 is formed oi two pieces of corrugated paper board 29 and 3U arranged in superimposed.coincident relation and secured together by a tape binding 3i extending entirely around the marginal portion. The piece 23 has one edge of the central portion out away as indicated at 32 in Figs. 1 and '7 while the remainder of this central section is oiiset to provide a section 33 in spaced parallel relation with the piece 30 of a width adapted to nt in the recess formed in the top member.

'Ihe opposite edge of the piece 29 is cut to form a tongue 34, Fig. 4, that is floldable toward piece 30 so that the end will extend inwardly toward the piece 30 and then upwardly behind section 33. This construction forms an operi ended pocket in the cover member of the character clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, 4 and 7 of a size suitable for receiving typewriting paper or other writing pa.- per, etc. The closed end of the pocketis spaced above the adjacentv margin. of the cover member as illustrated. y

With this construction of cover member 28, the

edge portion adjacent the closed end of the pocket will lnormallyform the rear or lower edgevof the cover member, and is adapted for insertion between the rear edgeiof top member I9 and rear panel 3, the edge of the cover member engaging between the flaps 23 and 25 on top member i9 and flap Il on rear panel 3 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. 4 The cover vmember is supported in vertically extending relation with the open end of thepocket extending upwardly as illustrated in the drawings while the lower edge is engaged between the top .member and the rear panel in such a manner that the lower edge engages in the fold portionZG of flap 25 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this 'position the closed end of the pocket formed by the ap 3d seats on vthe upper face of section 2l along the rear edge thereof as,clear1y illustrated in Figs. 'l find 4. In this position of the p-arts the desk is arranged for the support and use of a typewriter mounted on the top member and seated in the recess on top of section 2i.

When it is desired to use the desk as a writing desk it is preferable to remove cover member 28 from its vertical position as illustrated in Figs.

1, 4 and 5 and place the same in a horizontal position on top of top member I9 with the pocket portion positioned on the underside to t the recess in the top member so that odset section 33 rests on top of section 2l of the top member. In this position of the cover member the outer surface of piece 3l) is then disposed at the top of the desk in theplane of the upper edges of the front, rear and side panels and provides a. iiat surface over the entire desk top making it very convenient for use as a writing desk.

It will be noted from Fig. 8 that one form of corrugated paper board adapted'for use in the construction of this desk comprises two plane outer layers' arranged in spaced parallel relation and joined by an undulating intermediate section which is suitably glued or otherwise secured thereto to form a unitary sheet structure. This form of paper board is a well known commercial article and has substantial strength in line with the corrugations or undulations so that in a desk constructed as above described, and as shown in the drawings, with the undulating portions extending in a vertical direction, thedesk has the ability to' support `a substantial weight. I t is found from experience that. a. vdesk lconstructed as illustrated will carry a load of from four to six hundred pounds. It is further 'found that by the cooperation of plate members I 2'with the tubular pedestal formed -by the panelsof the casing together witlithe interltting relation of girders I3 that lateral stresses in the desk con. struction are well distributed so that when a typewriter is supported on the desk, its normal operation will not causc'vibration of the struc'- ture to any material extent.

As a result a substantially rigid desk constructionis provided that will efficientlyV 'support a portable or standard size of typewriter for its normal use. The nap portions on the casing and casing and desk structure with the interitted members I2 by engaging shoulders I1 to hold the supporting unit in the casing in properly'ad- Justed. position.

Y15 the top member also cooperatein reinforcing the It will be obvious that the desk 'may be dis-Vl l assembled by removing the cover member, then the top member, subsequently the girders I3 and then plate members I2.l After'tc'xp member I9 is removed theflaps maybe folded outwardly' and the vertical sections 22 moved about the fold line joining them with sections 20 and 2l sothat the top member may be unfolded to lie in a at position. Plate members I2 may also be disassem-v bled by disengaging one from the other whereupon they may be superimposed upon one another and when the casing is folded in the manner hereinbefore described, it will be apparent that all of these parts may be laid in superimposed relation and in a flat position, one on top of the other, and as a result the entire desk construction in collapsed orknock-down position may be assembled in a dat box for shipment or transport from one place to another. It will also be ap- Aparent that ythe desk can be readily assembled without tools or other special means merely by inter-fitting the parts one Within the other in the manner above described, and that when they are interiitted they will all interlock and co-act one With'the other to produce a rigid assembled vdesk structure. y

The invention claimed is: E v

i.' A collapsible desk, comprising an outer casing of sheet material formed to provide outer side, front and rear panels foldably connected at the corner edges, and spaced inner side panels oi less heighothan the rst-mentioned panels foldablyV I connected to the lower portions of the front and rear panels intermediate the ends to `form tubular pedestals at the ends of the desk, said front and rear panels having an opening between said inner side walls, a supporting unit having end supports removably engaged in said pedestais and supporting 'members connecting 'the upper endV portions, said casing and supporting unit cooperating in assembled relation to provide a rigid structure, and a laterally extending top member supported thereby.

2. A collapsible desk comprising an outer casing of sheet material having front, rear and connecting side panels,- inwardly folded aps on the upper edges of said panels, a, supporting unit removably assembled in' said casing and cooperating therewith to provide a rigid structure, co-

operating parts on said supporting unit for cooperative engagement with said flaps to retain said supporting unit in said casing against 11prectangular casing having iront, 'rear and outer relation on top ot said `supporting unit and hav- -ing an oiiset sectionengaging in said recess, said top member and the odset section thereoi and j said support. and casing cooperating to provide a rigid structure and l0. A `knock-down desk comprising a casing -ofsheet material standing on edge, a supporting unit removably mounted-in said casing cooper- Hating in assembled relation to provide a rigid l 5 J ward Vmovement, and a top 'member removably ,supportedonsaidunitandcasing 3. A knock-downv desk comprising an outer Ycasing having iront, rear and side panels formed 6 ot vshieet material standing on one edge, inner l 1o meer materiel amati: ensued m vertical relation in eachof said pedestals, vsaid' plate members extending. in angular relationto said panels i'orcooperation to provide rigid 'pedestalasaid unit horizontally'extending strips otsheet material interengaged .with said plate members in edgewise relation, and a top of sheet material mountedin horizontal relation on the `upper edges of said plate members and strips and intertted in said casing. "Y

4. A knock-down desk comprising an outer d inner side panels in spaced 'relavside panels y to provide a tubular structure ytion coopera at each end oi' the desk to form a'pedestaLplate members slidablyv engaged in said pedestais `in diagonal intereng'aged relation, girders of sheet material interengaged i'n the top'port'ions oi said plate members in vertical edgewise relation, and

a top formed of-'a horizontal sheet mounted on the upper edges of said -girders and plate memebers, said top, plate members andV girdersi'cooperating with said casing in assembled relation to providea rigid desk structure.

l5. A knock-down desk comprising outer casing having irgnt. rear and sidepanels; a sup-- porting unit mounted therein-having vertically disposed plate members of sheet material inter.

iitted with each other in angularv relation, girders inter-fitted with the upper ends of said plate mem'- 0i bers formed oi.' horizontal strips of sheet material mounted in edgewise relation onsaid plate members, anda horizontal top sheet supported platememon the upper edges of said 'Eirders bers cooperating with said casing to form the desk top, saidplate members, casing, girdersand top sheet cocpemting in interfltting relation to inter-,-

lock said 'parts together in rigid assembled relal tiontoirmadesla v y 6. A ock-down de comprising an'outer cas-- ing of sheet material standing onv 'edge and formed to provide front, rear, and outer and inner side panels at each end, said sidepanels cooperating with the'front and rear panels to form a. tubular pedestal at each end oi the desk,

a pair of crossed interiitted plate members in each tubular pedestal having opposite edges oi' each plate member slidably engaged in opposite corners of said pedestal at the intersection of the l front and rear panels with the side panels, said panels and plate members cooperating to provide a. rigid supporting structure, strip members mounted in edgewise relation on said plate members, and a top member. mounted on said strip and plate members in substantiallvhorizontal 85 relation.

7. A knock-down desk comprising an outer casing formed of sheet material standing on edge'to provide tubular pedestals of polygonal cross section at opposite ends, a pair of interiltted crossed plate members slidably engaged in each bers, and a top member supported in laterallyextending horizontal relation on ,said strip and plate member/s, strip and plate members and ysaid top and said casing cooperating to provide vertical edgewise relation in sam casing, naps on theupper edge ofr said casing interiitting and interlocking with said supporting unit, Aa top member ot sheet material mounted in horizontal relation on said supporting unit'and'having' lde-f` pending marginal taps interiitted with saidvcasing and unit, said casing, unit, topand ilaps cooperating to provide a rigid deskstructure.

9 A knock-down desk'comprising a casing o! sheer material standing on edge having' a lSplurality oi panels joined atthe edges, a supporting unit of sheet material'in said casing having the upper portion formed with a recess, and atop member ot sheet material mounted in horizontal a well tor receiving a type- 'structure a top member of sheet material mount-v `ed on said supporting' unit and casing, vand a :c over member detachably mounted on top o! said top member in `horizontal podtion to form a; writing top for said ,desk, and'movableto avertical position with onev edge interijittfed between v said casing Aand supporting unit to support said cover member in said vertical position.

n 11. A knock-down desk'comprising a casing of sheetmaterial sheet material members mounted in s aid.casing in edgewise relation to form a" rigid supporting structure, a top member mount-v, ed at'the top o said casing. anda cover member mounted in ve 'ical relation at Vthe blick of said `top 'member with the lower edge vengaged between said top member and casing, said cover )member being vdetachable and movable into a horizontal position on said top member.

12. A knock-down desk comprising a casing of sheet material, sheet material members mounted in said casing for cooperation to provide a rigid supporting `structure-said members being formed to provide a recess in the top portion, a top member mounted on said casing and recess to provide a well tor receiving a typewriter, and a cover'member detachablr mounted at the back of said top member having a holderI upper rear edge of said casing, a top member mounted Von said casing having a depending ap on the rear edge inter-engaging with the ap on said casing, and a cover member. mounted in vertically extending position with the lower edge engagedand 'supported by said aps.

14. A knock-down desk comprising a casing of sheet material having front, rear and vside panels joined at their ends and standing on edge, a plurality of sheet material members mounted on edge in said casing and cooperating therewith 5 members havingan oilset portion seated in said to provide a rigid support structure, a top member on said structure having depending edge naps interiitted with said casing and sheet material members, and a cover member superimposed on said topmember in one position to provide a writing surface on said desk and having one edge adapted for interfitting engagement with said top member, flaps and casing for support in a vertical position along the rear edge of the desk.

15. A knock-down desk comprising a casing formed of sheet material having foldably connected front, and rear panels, and inner and outer side panels at each venel to form tubular open ended pedestals, a pair of crossed interengaged plate members slidably engaged in diagonal relation in each pedestal, girders formed of -sheet material mounted in vertical edgewise spaced parallel relation with opposite ends interengaged with said plate members, a top member of sheet material supported on the upper edges of said girders and plate members, andfa cover member superimposed on said top member in one form tubular pedestals at the ends oi the desk and define a central opening extending from the front to the rear of the desk at the lower portion thereof, a supporting unit having vertically extending end supports removably engaged in said pedestals and horizontal supporting members supported on top of and extending between and acrossk the upper end portions of said end supports abovesaid inner side panels, said casing and supporting unit cooperating in assembled relation to form a rigid structure, and a laterally extending top member supported thereby.

MILTON S. STEVENSON. RAYMOND WEILS. 

